Combination seat and bed



June 5, 1.951 -R, B, EVANS ETAL 2,556,077

' couINATIoN SEAT AND BED 4 Sheets-Sheet l VFiled Nov. 27, 195o June 5, 1951 R, B, EVANS ET AL 2,556,077

COMBINATION SEAT AND BED Y Filed Nov. 27, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi l e d N o v 2 7 l 9 50 vANs Erm. 2,556,077

AND ED June 5, 1951 R BA EVANS ETAL 2,556,077

COMBINATION SEAT AND BED Filed Nov. 27, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 5, 1951 COMBINATION SEAT AND BED Robert B. Evans, Grosse Pointe Shores, Sulo Michael Nampa, Detroit, and Milton R. Fetterly, Trenton, Mich., assignors to Evans Products Company, Plymouth, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application November 27, 1950, Serial No. 197,656

12 claims. (c1.` 5 9) The present invention relates to seat and bed constructions, and is particularly directed tothe provision of improved constructions which can be convertibly used beds, bunks, or litters, and as multiple seats. In certain of its aspects the present invention constitutes improvements upon the inventions disclosed and claimed in the copending application of the present applicants, Evans and Nampa, Serial No. 554,203, filed Septomber l5, .1.944.

Principal objects of the present invention are to provide constructions oi the above type which are extremely simple in construction, economical of manufacture and assembly and light in weight, which are readily convertible as aforesaid and which may be readily installed in and removed from associated structures, such for example as transport aircraft; to provide such constructions utilizing eXible material such as canvas, to provide the seat surface, and embodying improved means to adjust the tension of such material; to provide such constructions wherein the supporting legs for the structure are utilized to control the tension of the seat material; to provide such constructions which, in addition to being readily foldable, are also collapsible in a Way which enables the structure as a whole to be rolled into a compact roll; to provide such structures utilizing spaced rails to support the flexible seat material, spreaders to maintain the rails in properly spaced relation and. legs to support at least certain of the rails, and iurther embodying means which enable the spreaders and the legs to be collapsed against associated rails, whereby to permit the aforesaid fold; to provide such constructions embodying seat backs formed of canvas or other fiexible material, of a height to support the head as Well as the back of an occupant, and embodying improved means to provide a supporting pocket to accommodate the head of the occupant; and to generally improve and simplify the construction and arrangement of constructions of the above generally indicated type.

With the above as Well as other and in certain cases, more detailed objects in View, which appear in the following description and appended claims, preferred but illustrative embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, throughout the several Views of which corresponding reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts and in which:

Figure l is a View in perspective of an embodiment of the invention, arranged for use as a multiple seat;

2 Fig. 2 is a View in perspective of the construction of Fig. l with the seat folded back;

Fig. 3 is a View in perspective of the construction of Fig. 1, with the seat in rolled condition;

Fig. 4 is a View in transverse section, taken along the line dof Fig. l

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view in transverse section of a detail appearing in Fig. 4;

Fig. 5A is a fragmentary view of a detail of the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View taken in elevation and partly in section, taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6A is a fragmentary view of a variant of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a modification of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a View in section, taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in elevation of an additional embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 10 is a view in section, taken along the line lli-l0 of Fig. 9.

It will be appreciated from a complete understanding of the present invention that in a generic sense, the improvements thereof may be embodied in constructions which differ Widely from the illustrated construction and which are intended for a Wide variety of different uses. Also in a generic sense, certain of these improvements may be utilized independently of` others of such improvements. Preferred applications of the invention are in connection with convertible bed and seat structures for use on transport aircraft and in an illustrative but not a limiting sense the invention is so disclosed herein.

Referring first to Figs. l-G, the general arrangement of the structure is in accordance with the invention of the aforesaid application, Serial No. 554,203, le-d September 15, 1944.

More particularly, the structure comprises a. seat surface 2li which may be and preferably is formed of flexible material such as relatively heavy canvas, and which is of a length somewhat in excess of the height of the expected occupants so that such surface may be utilized as a bed, bunk, or litter. Surface 2t is supported by the rails 22 and 24, which may be and preferably are formed of relatively light weight tubular metallic stock. As shown, the rear side of surface 2B is connected to the rear rail by looping the material over such rail, and attaching the free edge 2S of the surface 2) to the body thereof by stitching as indicated at 28 in Fig. 4. This 55 arrangement permits rail 2i to be freely rotatable and slidable lengthwise within the loop thus formed.

To provide the tension adjustment hereinafter described, the front edge 3e of the seat 2li is provided with a hem which receives a metallic reinforcing element 32.. lThis hemmed and reinforced edge is fastened securely to the front rail 22 by a plurality of longitudinally spaced fas-A tening elements 34 which pass through the fabric,

through the reinforcing element 32.' andffthrough the wall of the rail 22. These fasteningelements may be for example metallic' screwsi of a'. well known type which may be screwedintountapped openings provided in element; 32 andin rail'2 2. With this arrangement it will be understood that the tension of the seat surface 2c may be regulated by rotatably adjusting the front rail 22 This adjustment is accomplished as described..

below.

Preferably andas illustrated,.the rearv railv 24 is removably secured t'o'vfapartof the associated structure.V More particularly, as shown;A the 'rear rail' is carriedby bracket'sflll', which are removably. secured, as by. screws 12', to the reinforcing ribs lielvvhich form a structural part' ofthe fuselageof the associated airplane. To give adequate support to1the rearrail 2d, it is preferred to provide one such-bracketY d@ for each such rib fili, ih the manner indicated in connection with the hereinafter described upper railY d5.

Each. bracket-dll comprises Vagenerally atbody portion E3, which accommodates the fastening elements. 42, a fixed tongue de, and upper and lower movable jaws 52 andi. Eachljaw. is` providedwith a concave seat portiony d' to accommodate the rounded surfacev of the associatedirail, and is also-provided with a. slightly outwardly turned rounded nose 5t' to avoid' injury to the material 2.o. in those cases in which the bracket Il@ is fitted. both over the material andthe rail, whichrel'ation is indicatedv in Fig. 5. The jaws are adjustably secured to the tongue ofthe bracket by a stud. Sii. whichv passes. therethrough, andan associated nutZ As shown, the lower end of. each stud .Bil may conveniently carry a cargo-fastening ring 64'. e Further in accordance with the disclosure of the aforesaidapplication,Serial'N. 554,203', the `front railV 22'V is supported by a plurality of legs 'lil which mayl befandp-referably are formed'of relatively light' weight' tubular 'metallic stock. The. upper end of each leg lil is provided with a 'tti'ng T2', secured thereto as by a boltl lll', and which defines a cylindrical sleeve 75'. Each sleeve'a''is accommodatedby a cutout' portion 'l provided therefor in the seat surface 20,' and is dimensioned to provide. a free rotative t forthe front rail22. In order to lock each leg 'l' in a predetermined rotative position with respect to the rail 22, a clutch connection is provided therebetween. As shown, this clutch connection is afforded by providing a locking screw Se for e'ach sleeve, which is threaded through the wall thereof and may be turned into locking position relative to the'surface of the rail 22.

With thisV relation it will' be appreciated that vertical loads applied to the seat surface 2G' tend to rotate the legs '1U in a clockwise direction, about the rail 22, as viewed in Fig. 4. To enable legs 'lil to resist this force and to otherwise stabilize their connection to the associated floor structure 82, the legs 'Hl'are provided with associated fittings 84, which enable them to be detachably secured to depressed floor plates 8S; As most clearly appears in Fig. 6, and in the aforeli l) said application Serial No. 554,203, filed September 15, 1944, fittings 84, Which telescopically receive the lower ends of the legs l@ are provided with diametrically opposite vertically extending slots 33 which receive latches se. Latches Sil in turn are provided with` hook-like: lower ends which engage below the shouldered head 92 of a holding button which is rigidly secured to each corresponding floor plate Sii. A compression spring 9d biases the latches into the just-mentioned holding relation but enables a separation of the hooked lower ends in order to make and break' the' detachable connection.

With. the just-mentioned relation, it will be appreciated that the tension of the seat surface 20 may be very readily adjusted by releasing the legs lo from their associated licor plates 86, affecting a desired rotative adjustment between each leg l5 and the rail 22, as permitted by the aforesaid clutch connection, and thereafter reengaging thelegs l@ with their floor plates.

An important feature of the'present invention resides in arrangingthe structure so that it can be readily rolled to the out of the way position shown in Fig. 3, as well as being folded to the As shown, this rolled E2 is of channelform and the upper end of each associated leg lf3 is rounded as indicated `at l0@ in Fig. 6, so that each fastening pin 'ill affords a pivotal connection between the related elements le and'e'2. The back 12a of each such channel form limits such pivotal movement in one direction, but enables the legs ll'of Fig.' 6', example, to be swung clockwise to a position parallel to and immediately adjacent' the' rail '265. It is within the purview of the present invention to provide a detent connection between. each leg 'ld and its fitting, which yieldably resists the just-mentioned movement'. As shown in Fig. 6A, such a detent connection may be afforded by inwardly directing the legs i2 of the' associated f fitting l2" by an amount to lightly resist the above mentioned swinging movement of the legs 1U.

Further in accordance with. th'e disclosure of the aforesaid copending application', Serial No. 554,263, the structure is preferably'provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced spreaders I I which may be and preferably are formed of relatively light weight tubular metallic'Y stock. Spreaders H0 areV preferably downwardly bowed, so that they do not interferel withv the depressing of the' seat surface' Z'lby occupants lyi'n'g or sitting thereon'.

In' accordance with' the present invention thefront ends of spreaders l'i'z' aret provided' With' fittings l I2, which may andprefera'bly'do' duplic'a'te the fittings' l2' or. l2" 'except '.'li'atV they 'do' not require the locking screws 8D'. Thus, rail" 22 is freely rotatable within the sleeves. afforded` by fittings H2. is is bes't 'shown in Fig.' 5A, the rear end of each spreader l illv is provided with a rearwardly presentingl U-'shaped spring clip H4, the marginal edges of the legs ofv which are slightly outwardly turned a's indicated at,- H6. These clips freely androtatably embrace the rear rail 24 and yieldably resist a separation of th'e spreader from the' rail` in a direction lengthwise of the spreader. The material of the surface 20 is provided with cutout portions H8 to accommod'ate the just-mentioned fittings, as; is indicated at H8 in Fig. 2. It will be understood ac'- cordingly that when the seat is in the active position of Figs. 1 and 4, spreaders I0 are enabled to maintain a desired spacing between the front and rear rails 22 and 24. In folding the seat to the position of Fig. 2, the ttings ||4 enable the spreaders to pivot about the rear rail 22. In preparing to roll the seat to the position of Fig. 3, the fittings i4 are separated from the rail 24. Sufficient slack in the surface material 20 to accommodate this movement is afforded by releasing the legs from their floor fittings and swinging the lower ends thereof outwardly, as will be understood. When the legs 10 are secured to their floor fittings, insuflicient slack is left in the surface material to permit such a separating movement of the fittings i|4 from the rear rail 24. The knees or joints I2 in the spreaders ||0 permit them to be folded lengthwise against the front rail 22, for rolling purposes, as will be understood. When the spreaders are folded against the rail 22, it will be understood that they overlap each other somewhat. This overlapping is accomplished by turning the spreaders to slightly different rotative positions relative to the rail 22.

Further in accordance with the disclosure of the aforesaid copending application, the present structure may be utilized as a multiple seat and is consequently provided with a plurality of seat backs |30 which may be and preferably are formed of flexible material such as canvas, of a preferably open mesh type. The lower ends of the backs |30 may be and preferably are sewed to the seat surface at a point intermediate the rails 22`and 24. For this purpose, the lower edge of each back is provided with an attaching tab |32 of double thickness, which tab is stitched to material 20 as indicated at |34.

The upper ends of the backs |30 are supported by an upper rail 46 which may correspond to the rail 24 and is similarly secured to the associated ribs 44. Further as shown each back |30 is connected to the rail 46 by a plurality of hooks |36, which may be adjustably connected to the corresponding back by the buckled strap |38 shown in Figure 4. The use of hooks affords a very readily made or separated connection between the backs |30 and the rail 46, as will be understood. As in the case of the copending application, it is preferred to give the backs |30 a height which enables them to support the head as well as the back of the occupant. In certain instances to give a cradled support to the head, it is desirable to provide for depressing the central portion of the upper end of each back. This is readily accomplished by simply releasing the central hook |36. Alternative arrangements for` cradling the head of the occupant are shown in Figures '7 through 10, described hereinafter.

As in the case of the copending application, it is preferred to provide the individual seats with usual safety belts |40, the rear ends whereof are turned around behind the rail 24 and are sewed to the underside of the surface 20 as indicated in Figure 2. When not in use, it will be understood that the safety belts |40 may be dropped down behind the rail 24, the same being true of the backs |30. In the rolled position of the seat, the belt |40 are disposed within the body of the roll. The backs |30, under these conditions, may either be rolled at the outside or the inside of the roll. The structure may conveniently be retained in rolled position by the spring clips |3| which are secured to the wall structure, and which, when not in use, may be turned to lie atwise thereagainst,

A feature of the present construction resides in providing each safety belt portion |40 with a retaining loop |50, only one of which is shown in Figure 1, in order to simplify the drawing. This loop insures that when a safety belt portion is withdrawn from its dropped position behind the rail 24, it will nevertheless be snubbed around the rail 24.

In the modification of Figures 7 and il, the upper portion of a seat back |60 is provided with a slit |62 which defines a generally elliptical opening therein of a size which forms a cradle for the head of the occupant. The base of this cradle is afforded by a flexible panel |64 which is sewed to the seat back |60 behind the slit.

Alternatively, as shown in Figures 9l and 10, each seat back may be provided with a detachable cushion |10 having a depressed central portion |12, which, with the thickened side portions |14 defines a head-receiving cradle. As shown, pillow |10 may be adjustably connected to the rear rail 24 by hooks |16, in the manner described above in connection with hooks |36.

Although only several specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated that various further modifications in the form, number, and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing :from the spirit and scope of the invention.

This application is a full continuation of our abandoned application, Serial No. 554,204, filed September 15, 1944, entitled Combination Seat and Bed.

What is claimed is:

l. In a seat structure or the like, the subcombination of a flexible sheet for providing a seating surface or the like, said sheet having spaced side edges, a rail having a longitudinal axis and rotatable about said axis, a spacer rotatably connected to said rail to permit said rotation of the rail about its longitudinal axisrelative to said spacer and adapted to space said rail from a suitable support for the other end of said spacer, said sheet being affixed along one of said edges to said rail and capable upon rotation of said rail about said longitudinal axis of wrapping around said rail, said seat structure including a support member extending radially of said axis and supporting said rail, a connect- `ing means between said rail and member permitting relative movement therebetween around said longitudinal axis, locking means between. said rail and support member for selectively releasing or holding said rail and member in any of Various angular positions relative to each other for joint rotation `about said axis, and means on the support member Vspaced from said rail whereby the member may be selectively anchored to a suitable xed member to prevent such joint rotation, the other of said sheet edges and said space-r having means to be connected to a support spaced from said rail by said spacer.

2. The invention as set forth in claim l wherein said connecting means also includes pivotal means permitting pivoting of said member about an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis whereby said member may be pivoted about said transverse axis to a position alongside said rail.

3. In a seat structure or the like, the combination of a flexible sheet for providing a seating surface or the like, said sheet having spaced side edges, a first rail having a longitudinal axis and rotatable about said axis, a spacer rotatably connected to said rail, said sheet being affixed along one of `said edges to said rail and capable upon location intermediate said rails, means on said back portion for connection to a support and for adjusting the tension in the back portion, said back portion at least partially supporting said seat portion when connected by said means whereby tension adjustment of the back by said means also affects the tension in said seat portion.

9. For use in an airplane having a floor and side wall, a light weight troop type seat structure adapted to be removable and also to be foldably collapsible and rolled up and which in its operative position comprises a liexible sheet means extending horizontally and providing a body supporting surface and having spaced apart side edges, an elongated member secured along one of said edges, the other of said edges having means to removably secure it to suitable means on the side wall of the airplane, spacer means acting between said elongated member and said airplane side wall to space them and having means to removably connect it to said side wall leg means, said spacer means and leg means being both hingedly connected to said elongated member to selectively swing to inoperative positions alongside of said elongated member whereby said hingedly connected members are adapted to be folded-up alongside said elongated member and rolled up in this connected collapsed condition in said connected flexible sheet and removed from the said side wall.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 9 in which said body supporting sheet includes a seat forming portion and also a back forming portion connected thereto intermediate said spaced side edges and both of which connected sheet portions may be Wrapped around said collapsed and connected members as a core.

l1. For use in an airplane having a floor and side wall, a light weight seat structure upwardly swingable to fold up in place and also removable as a roll wrapped collapsed assembly, said seat structure comprising an elongated front rail member having a longitudinal axis, a seat forming iiexible sheet portion having two spaced apart edges, one of said edges being secured to and along said rail and the other of said edges having means to detachably and hingedly connect it to suitable lower support means on the airplane side wall, a back forming ilexible seat portion extending upwardly from the seat forming portion intermediate its spaced edges and in normal use partially supporting said seat portion, means to detachably secure the upper end of 10 said back portion to suitable upper support means on the airplane side wall, spacer members connected to said front rail and having means to hingedly and removably engage suitable lower support means on the airplane side wall to space said front rail from said lower support means, and legs, connected to said front rail to support it in operative position, the connections of both said spacer members and legs to said front rail permitting motion about two different axes whereby both said spacer members and said legs can be selectively folded to connected inoperative positions alongside of said rail and also for selective swingable movement about the said longitudinal axis of said rail, and whereby the said seat structure may be folded up while connected` to and carried by the side wall by swinging the legs to a position alongside of the spacers and seat por tion and swinging the spacers and seat portion with the legs upwardly about the suitable lower means on the side wall to a position alongside or" the back portion and whereby the seat structure may alternatively be collapsed by detaching the spacer members from the side wall and folding up the spacer members and legs to said positions alongside of said front rail and rolling up this connected assembly in said flexible seat and back portions disconnected from said side wall to form a removable roll wrapped up package.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 11 including means to adjustably rotate the front rail about its longitudinal axis to roll up and wrap the eXible seat forming sheet portion about only the said rail to adjust its tension between the said front rail and its connection to the said wall, and means to retain said rotary adjusted position of the rail to retain the thus adjusted tension of the seat forming flexible portion.

ROBERT B. EVANS. SULO MICHAEL NAMPA.. MILTON R. EETTERLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 542,374 Sauerbier July 9, 1895 648,453 Daley May 1, 1900 671,297 Russell Apr. 2, 1901 710,304 Rose et al. Sept. 30, 1902 1,068,508 Lee July 29, 1913 1,607,572 Soderquist Nov. 16, 1926 

